A positive result is the ultimate thing in cricket, or any other sport, for that matter. A win masks a lot of negatives and, in some cases, turns them into positives. Take the India vs England 2nd Test for example. All hell broke loose when India made three changes to their XI. They rested Jasprit Bumrah despite being 1-0 lead. Did not pick Kuldeep Yadav and went in with two batting all-rounders. The move, deemed as ultra-defensive, was bashed left and right. But after five days of cricket at Edgbaston, a venue where they had never won, they registered their biggest-ever away win (in terms of runs) to draw level in the five-match series.

The resounding victory doesn't mean India picked the right XI -- apart from Akash Deep, the other two changes barely made any impact in the match -- but it did enough to shift the focus away from the side's make-up. There was another thing that could have completely changed the complexion of the match -- the toss.

After losing the toss, India captain Shubman Gill said he, too, would have opted to bowl like his English counterpart Ben Stokes. The decision did not prove to be a wise one as India piled on 587, riding on Shubman Gil's record 269-run knock.

Former England opener Mark Butcher, the Edgbaston Test, would have tuned out to Shubman Gill's last if the same thing had happened to India because of his decision at the toss. Butcher made the comment after former India head coach Ravi Shastri said England would get away with their decision to field.

"England would get away with this decision of batting first but if it were Shubman Gill, who said India would have bowled, it would not have gotten away if England had reached 600," Shastri said on commentary during the Edgbaston Test.

"Might have been his last Test as captain," replied Butcher.

Gill led from the front to orchestrate India's 336-run. Gill became the first cricketer to hit a double century and a 150 in the same Test. The Indian captain backed up his 269 in the first innings with a fluent 161 in the second innings. In Bumrah's absence, fast bowler Akash Deep picked up a 10-wicket haul in the match.

Mark Butcher all praise for Shubman Gill

Butcher gave Gill's captaincy and batting skills high marks. "There are not many positions in global sport that are subject to as much pressure and examination as the captain of the Indian cricket team, right? In addition to filling in Kohli's position in the batting lineup or Tendulkar's position in the lineup, both of whom held the number four spot, you are also filling in Kohli's or Tendulkar's place in the order, Butcher informed PTI.

"As a result, the pressure was intense. So far, he's adapted to it like a duck to water. In terms of his demeanor, he has simply seemed really, really at ease and calm," stated the 52-year-old, who represented England in 71 Tests between 1997 and 2004.

Prior to the series, Gill's temperament and approach were subject to doubt, but the 25-year-old put an end to that discussion for the time being with 585 runs scored across four innings.

"Moreover, he has played flawlessly from a technical standpoint. What a fantastic beginning to the series! After all, he may have some records on his side by the end of it. He's already gone far enough. So what does he have? There are now 600 items in the collection. It has been a fantastic beginning.

"And England will have to come up with an answer for him in that middle order, because they obviously feel, that you get past the top three or four...and then there are bounties to be had a bit further down the order," he said, alluding to India's weak lower order.

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